Dissolving shutter for motion-picture apparatus



R. w. PITTMAN.'` DISSOLVING SHUTTER FOR MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8,1921.. 1 ,404,404, Patented Jan. 24, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

xx W4 R. w. HUMAN. DISSOLVING SHUTT'ER FOR MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. E, 1921.

Patented @11.24, 1922.l

UNITED- STATES PATENT' ioFFica. g

BEINHART w. PITTirAN, or NEW Yonx, N. Y..

DISSOLVIiN'G SHUTTER FOR MOTION-PICTURE AIPARATUS.

To all-whom it may-concern.' Be it` known that'I, REINHART W. Prr'r- MAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of New York city, in the county of -New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dissolving Shutters for Motion-Picture Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularlyv to the shutter mechanism for a motion picture camera, of the. type provided with fa movable wing on the shutter that is shifted thereon to reduce the shutter opening during the operation of the shutter.v

' The object of this invention is to provide 4an improved construction vof this character in which the wing is automatically shifted -across the shutter opening during the operation of the shutter, and also moved to again expose the opening.

.A `further object of the invention is to provide an operating member in connection with such mechanism whereby the movement ofthe wing across the shutter opening is 4effected directly under the control of the operator, and the wing can becaused to remain in any desired position relative tothe shutter during the rotation of theshutterand wing. I

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with a mechanism of of Fig.

Fig. 3 shows some of the parts in perspective. I

Fig. 4 is a section of the shutter and wing operating means.

Fig. 5` showsthe spring nut for the wing lof the shutter.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig.. Figs. 7 and 8 show details of the shutter mounting.

Fig. 9 is top view of certain parts.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '24, 1922.

Application led March 8, 192.1. Serial No. 450,704.

Fig. 1o shows o dotoii of modification.

Fig. 11 showsa part of the rack for the hand-controlled dissolve.

y invention is shown applied to a camera for taking motion pictures, in which a film isintermittently advanced across la -focal axis, and in which a shutter is' arranged to intermittently expose the film at each successive advance, and is of the rotary type. I show a main driving shaft 1, thatby a suitable operating mechanism serves to actulate the lm feedin any suitable manner and intermittently advance the film, that includes an upright shaft 2, rotated by spiral gears 3 and4, see Fig. v3. A tubular shaft 5, is suitably supported and carries a-main shutter 6, secured thereon by a collar 7, see Fig. 7. This shutter 6 has the usual open portion that will expose the film for the proper time in each revolution. 'The tubular shaft 5 carries a rod 8, slidable therein, see Fig-4, and at one end this rod is provided with a spiral fiattened portion 9.

.A second shutter or'wing member 10 is arranged to turn on Vthe tubular shaft 5, Iand at the same time to partake of the rotation of this shaft. A collar 11 is mounted loose on the` shaft 5, and is held against the collar. 7 by a sleeve 12, with a flange at one end, see Fi 8, a screw 12 passing through this collar into the shaft 5. The iange of the sleeveholds the collar 11 rotatably on' i the shaft 5 and the-wing 10 is secured to the collar 11, as shown. 'A spring nut is formed by plates 13, 14, connected by springs 16,

that Slide on o ,guido portion 15 of tho ooi.

lar 11, see Fig. 8,'which plates are pressed against the Hat 'spiral 9 by the springs, see

4. Thiswill cause the wing 10 to be carried around by the bar 8, when the latter moves around with the sleeve shaft 5 and endwise movement of the bar in the sleeve shaft will turnthe wing 10relative to the shutter 6. This will .cause the normal opening of the shutter 6 to be reduced to any desired amount, and .also to be completely closed. A sleeve 17 is slidably mounted on the tubular shaft 5, and has an annular channel 18 thereon that is constantly engaged by an arm 19 carried by a controlling bar 20. The outer shaft 5 has a slottedportion 21, and a piece 22 is slidable in this slot eidwise, and is secured to the sleeve 17 by screw 12. By this means the rod 8 will `'move ei-idwise in the tubularl shaft 5, but cannot t1 11' I 1 th e 1`9. I1 'and the arm 19 will tion ,of the shaft 5, et will advance ,the rodl constantly engage the sleeve 17 during rota- 8 inside of the sha when desired, and the latter movement by the spiral portion 9 will shift the wing 10 relative to the shutter 6 during the rotation ofthe shaft and shutter. By this means the wing can be caused to assume any position desired to reduce the amount of the shutter opening, or close it completely. y n

I further provide mechanism actuated by the main shaft to cause reciprocation of the control bar 20 in a predetermined time relative to lthe rotation ofthe shaft 1 and of the shutter 6. This mechanism iscontrolled by a button on the outside of the camera that is simply advanced, and which will cause such mechanism to make one shifting the wing completely across the shutter opening,.or to retract the wing to provide full normal exposure. Asshown the rod 20, is retracted by a doubleca'm 23 ofheart shape mounted on a shaft 24, which cam engages pins 25 and 26 on the extension of the rod 20, see Fig. 1. One revolution of this cam will advance and then retract the bar 20, to ecct a complete dissolve as stated. Shaft 24 carries a ratchet wheel 27 actuated by a pawl 28, whose endl 29 forms a strap for an eccentric 30 fast on shaft 1. Each rotation of this shaft will move the pawl back and'forth, that may advance the ratchet wheel 27 one or more teeth, which W1ll operate the bar 20, land shift the wing on the shutter. Since the pawl i s normally reciprocated through the shaft, I provide a control bar 31 having a button 32, outside of the camera, normally pressed upward by a coil spring 33. A pin 34 on bar 31 serves to hold the` pawl 28 up, with the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, see Fig. 3. On depression of this bar by the button, the pawl will fall on the ratchet wheel, and its operation by shaft 1. will rotate the cam shaft 24.

I further provide means for holding the control bar 31 inthe depressed position until the cam shaft has made one half of a revolution to cause the wing to move across the shutter, and then this bar will rise to withdraw the pawl from the ratchet wheel. A disc 35 is fast on the cam shaft 24, and 'has opposite notches 36 and 37 arranged to engage a pin 38 on the lower part of the bar 31, and the spring 33 will normally hold the slide 31, with the pin 38 in the one`of the notches as 37, thus preventing rotation of the cam shaft 24; On depression of the.

button, the disc 35 will' be released and the .pawl will .engage the ratchet wheel and turn the shaft and the disc 35. The rise of the ba'r 31 at this time will bring the pin '38 against the edge of the disc 31 beyondvthe notch 37 and this is so arranged that the pawl will not now be raised by the pin 34 half rotation of the wing 10 by thespiral portion 9, s o that a dissolve will be effected.

It will be understood that the next depres sion of the slide will cause another half revsame movement will be produced, the rod 2() causing the bar 9 to move back the same' distance, and complete rotation .of the wing 10 relative to the shutter 6.

-olution of the disc 35-and the cam, and the I further provide means 'for moving the slide 2() back and forth manually, so that v the operator can shift ,the winglO to any desired position relativetothe shutter 6, that Iwill remain in such adjusted position. Also the slide 20 can be moved back and forth to cause a dissolve by manual operation at any desired speed, under complete control of the operator. The cam shaft 24 is projected through the side wall 40,'and provided with a wing or'head 41,

10 on the shutter. But to do this without depressing the button 32 and slide, VI make the cam shaft 24 slidable, so that when move'd inwardly it will shift the' disc 35 away from the pin 38 on the slide 31. Since the pawl is held free frcmthe ratchet wheel, this shaft is free to be turned by the'operator by the head 41. It will be understood that the cam 23 remains engaging the pins 25 and 26 on the bar 20 during this movement. A coil spring 42 serves to press the cam shaft 24 outwardly @to its normal position, and when pushed inward and turned, the disc 35 will press against the pin 38 to to turn the'cam 23 and so operate the wing shaft to move outward. One advantage of i this arrangement is that when the automatic dissolve has been operated by pressing down the button and the wing is shifted from the open around to-'the closed posi- C tion b v the main shaft, with ,this shaft stopped, the wing can be returned to its normal position by the half rotation of the disc 35 and cam 23. Obviously, the reverse can be effected if desired, Vand the wing shifted to the closed position and then gradually opened by the said automatic means. The wing head 41 on this cam shaft 24,

v,also serves as an indicator because the automatic dissolve causes a half rotation 0f the cam shaft 24, and will turnthis wing head a half revolution; and a pointer '43 thereon can register with .marks on the side plate,

in its upper and lower position. The operator isV thus linformed when the button is pressed and the dissolve operates, just when Athe dissolve is, finished, either opened or inside, on Which is pivoted a rack bar 47,A

that projects beneath a gear 48 fast on cam shaft'24. When this lever is swung to advance the rack bar, a cam slot 48 therein I 'rides on a pin 48a that moves the rack up which Will vary .to engage the-gear 48. But a cam face 49 on the rack bar will first move the rack bar inwardly, and a stop pin50 on the rack bar engages the side of the ratchet 27 fast on the cam shaft, toy move this shaft in- Wardly and cause disc l35 to be free of the pin 38 on the slide 31. This is done just before`the rack bar. engages the gear 48, Land this' shaft being now free tov turn/Will beswunlg b y the rack bar. The bar 20 will be thereby advanced and shift' the wing l0 on the shutter. This lever can shift the Wing the full distance or any part thereof, as indicated by the scale 53y adjacent the arm 45. By this means a hand dissolve can be made, independent of the automatic means. -But the lever must be brought back to the normal 'position to disengage the rack, and permit return of the cam shaft to a normal position, before the automatic dissolve can be again operated.

.In Fig. l0 a modication is shown in which the pawl for the gear ratchet Wheel 27, is carried on an arm 61. The eccentric arm v62 engages a slide portion 63 of the arm 61, adjustable thereon by a bolt 64.A

rIhis adjustment varies the travel of the pawl 60 and for each swing of the pawl, a greater or less number of teeth are advanced on the ratchet Wheel .as desired,

What I claim is:

l. In a camera, the COIIlbiIlatOIl With 11 pawl in engagement with said ratchet .until rotatable shutter having an aperture to intermittently expose a lens, and awing on said shutter movable thereon, 0f means for shifting the said Wing on the shutter to eX- pose and cover said aperture during rotation of the shutter, comprising a shaft on which said shutter mounted, a bar slidable yon said shaft to shift said wing, a driving shaft Y connected `with 4the shutter shaft, la rotatable ratchet, a pawl rocked by the driving shaft and arranged to advancethe ratchet, a control slide projecting out of the camera and arranged to cause said pawl to engage said ratchet, a cam fast to said ratchet and connected With said Wing bar to reciprocate the lbar during rotation ofthe shutter shaft, and

means for holding the ycontrol slide with the pawl inv engagement vwith said ratchet the speed of the dissolve relative to the' speed of the shutter.

until said wing has moved across the shut-- ter, and to thereupon release the pawl and slide.

l 2. In a camera, the vcombination with a rotatable shutter having an aperture to intermittently expose a lens, and a wing on said shutter movable thereon, of means for shifting the said wing on the shutter to expose and cover said aperture during rotation of the shutter, comprising a shaft on which said shutter is mounted, a bar slidable o n said' shaft to shift said Wing, a driving shaft connected with the lshutter shaft, a

rotatable ratchet, a pawl rocked b the driving shaft and arranged to a vance the ratchet, a control slide projecting out of the camera and arranged to cause said pawl to engage 'said ratchet, a cam fast to said ratchet and connected with said wing bar to reciprocate the bar during rotation of the shutter shaft, and means for holding the control slide with the pawl 'in' engagement with said ratchet until said wing has moved across the shutter and to thereupon release the pawl and slide, a lever projecting'beyond the casing, and means connecting the lever and said gear arranged to cause advance of the wingbar from advance of said lever.

A 3. In a camera, the combination with a. rotatable shutter having an aperture to intermittently expose a lens, and a wing on said shutter movable thereon, of means for `shifting the said -Wing on the shutter to expose and cover said aperture during rotation of the shutter, comprising a shaft on which said shutter is mounted, a bar slidable ou said shaft to shift said wing, a driving shaft connected with the shutter shaft, a rotatable ratchet, a pawl rocked by the driving shaft and arranged to advance the ratchet, a control slide projecting outof the camera and arranged to cause said pawl to engage said ratchet, a cam fast to said ratchet and connected. with said Wing bar to reciprocate the bar during rotation of the shutter shaft, and means for holding the control slide with the 'said shutter movable thereon, of means for shifting the said wing on-the shutter to expose and cover said aperture during rotation' of the shutter, comprising a shaft on which said shutter is mounted, a bar slidable on said shaft to shift said wing, a driving shaft connected withthe shutter shaft, a. rotatable l,and to thereupon release the awl and slide, said lattermeans being shifta le to cause the wing bar to be'moved to open. or to close the shutter aperture at will. A

5. In a camera, the combination with a rotatable shutter having an aperture to! intermittently expose a lens, and a wing on said shutter movable thereon, of means for shifting the said wing on the shutter to ex pose .and cover said yaperture during rotation of the shutter, comprising. a shaft on which said shutter is mounted, a bar slidable on said shaft to shift said wing, a driving shaft'connected with the shutter shaft, a rotatable ratchet, a pawl vrocked by the driving shaft and arranged to 'advance the ratchet, a control slide projecting out of. the camera and .arranged to cause said pawl to engage said ratchet, a cam fast to said ratchet and connected with said wing bar to reciprocate the bar during `rotation of the shutter shaft, and means for holding the control slide with-the pawl in engagementwith said ratchet until said wing has movedl across the shutter, and to thereupon release the pawl and slide, said latter means being shiftable to cause the wing bar to be moved to open or to close the shutter aperture at will, a lever projecting beyond the casing, and means connecting the lever and said ratchet .arranged to first disconnect the ratchet from the Vwing bar and then to cause advance of the wing bar from continued advance of said lever.

6. In a camera, the combination with a rotatable shutter having an aperture to intermittently expose a lens, and a wing on said shutter movable thereon, of means for` shifting the said wing on the shutter, comprising a shaft on which said shutter is mounted, la bar slidable on said shaft to shift said wing, a driving shaft connected y with the shutter shaft, a rotatable ratchet, a

' range pawl rocked bythe drivingshaft and arranged to advance the ratchet, a control piece rojecting out of the camera and ard) to cause said pawl to engage and advance said ratchet,a cam fast to said ratchet opposed notches, .a pin on said slide that is held against said'disk by said spring whereby when the said pin on the slideenters one of said notches the slide will be ladvanced to release the pawl from the ratchet, and when the pin engages the disk lbeyond said notches the pawl will be held in engagement withthe ratchet to'cause the wing to move across the shutter.

7. In a camera, the combination with a ro'- f tatable shutter having an aperture to, intermittently expose a lens, and .a Wing on said shutter movable theron, of means for shift ing the wing on the shutter to .open andv close said aperture 'during rotation ofthe shutter, comprising ashaft on .which said .shutter is mounted, a bar slidable on said shaft to shift said wing, a driving shaft con` nected with the shuttershaft, a rotatable ratchet, a pawlA rocked by the driving shaft andarranged to advance the ratchet, a control piece projecting out of the camera and arranged to cause said pawl to engage and advance said ratchet, a cam fast to said ratchet and connected with said wing bar to reciprocate the bar during rotation of the shutter-shaft, a spring to retract the control slide, a disk fast to said ratchet having a pair of opposed notches, a pin on said slide that is held against said disk by said spring whereby when the said pin on the slide enters one of said notches the slide will be advanced to release the pawl from the ratchet, and when the pinv engages the disk beyond said notches the pawl will be held in engagement with the ratchet to cause the wing to move across the shutter.

8. In a camera, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a shutter fast on said shaft and having an aperture to intermittently expose a lens, a wing movably carried by said shutter to be rotated therewith and to shift across the shutter aperture-during its rotation, said shaft having an axial bore, a bar slidable in said bore axially but held to turn with the shaft, said bar having a at v spiral'portion, said wing having a .pair of slidable plates engaging the spiral bar por'- tion, and springs pressing the plates against the bar whereby movement of the rod endwise ofthe shaft will shift the wing across the shutter aperture during the rotation of fully open position, and means for shifting the Wing on the shutter during rotation including a slidable bar connected with the Wing, a driving shaft connected with the shutter, a ratchet wheel, a pawl arranged to be rocked bythe driving shaft to advance the ratchet wheel, a control slide projecting out of the camera and arranged to cause said pawl to engage said wheel, means connecting said wheel with said bar to shift the bar during operation of the shutter, and

means connected with said ratchet wheel for 110 holding the slide when advanced with the rotatable shutter pawl has fully moved and to thereupon release the slide and-pawl.

10. In a camera, the combination with a rotatable shutter having a wing movable thereon to vary the opening from closed to fully open position, and means for shifting the wing on the shut-ter during rotation including a slidable bar connected with the Wing, a driving shaft connected with the shutter, a ratchet wheel, a pawl arranged to be rocked bythe driving shaft to advance the ratchet wheel, a control slide projecting out of the camera and arranged to cause said pawl to engage said wheel, means connecting said wheel with said bar to shift the bar during operation of the shutter, means connected with said ratchet wheel for holding the slide when`advanced with the pawl engaging said wheel until the winghas fully moved and to thereupon release the slide and pawl, said slide normally holding said ratchet wheel against movement with the wing in either the fully open or full closed position, a lever on the casing', an means connecting the lever and said ratchet wheel arranged to first release the wheel from said control slide and to thereupon cause said connecting means to shift the wing on further advance of the lever.

ll. In a camera a combination with a rotatable shutter, aving thereon to vary the opening from closed to fully opened position and means for shifting the wing on the shutter during rotation including a slidable bar connected with the wing, a driving shaft connected with the shutter, a ratchet wheel, a pawl arranged to be rocked by the driving shaft to advance the ratchet wheel, a control slide projecting out of the camera and arranged to cause said pawl to e age said wheel, means connecting said wheldwith said bar to shift the bar during operation of the shutter, and means connected with said ratchet wheel for holding .the slide when advanced with the pawl engaging said Wheel until the wing has fully moved and to thereupon release theslide and pawl, said connecting means being so arranged that the same advance of the control slide will cause said mechanism to shift the wing to the closed position if open, and also to the open position if closed.

12. In a camera, a combination with a having a wing movable thereon to vary the opening from closed to fully opened position and means for receiving the wing on the shutter during rol 7 n l a engagmg said wheel until the wing vwith the shutter, a ratchet wheel, a arranged to be rocked b a wing movable tation including a slidable bar connected with the wing, a driving shaft connected paw the driving shaft to advance the ratchet w eel, a control slide projecting out of the camera and arranged to cause said pawl to engage said wheel, means connecting said wheel with said bar to shift the bar during operation of the shutter, and means connected with said ratchet wheel for holding the slide when advanced with the pawl engaging said wheel until the wing has fully moved and to thereupon release vthe slide and pawl, said connecting means being so arranged that the same advance of the control slide will cause said mechanism to shift the wing to the closed position if open, and also to the open position if closed, and a control connected with said ratchet wheel arranged to shift the wing to either of said positions, whereby the subsequent operation of the control will result in said operation of the wing.

13. In a camera, a combination with a rotatable shutter having a wing movable thereon to vary the opening from closed to fully opened position and means for receiving' the wing on the shutter during rotation including a slidable bar connected with the wing, a driving shaft connected with the shut-ter, a ratchet wheel, a pawl arranged lto be rocked bythe driving shaft to advance the ratchet wheel, a control slide projecting out of the camera and arranged to cause said pawl to en age said wheel, means connecting said w eel with said bar to shift the bar during operation of the shutter, stop means connected with said ratchet wheel for holding the slide when advanced with the pawl engaging said wheel until the Awing has fully moved and to thereupon release the slide and pawl, said connecting means being arranged whereby the same advance of the control slide will cause said mechanism to shift the wing to the closed position if open, and also to the open position if closed, and a control connected with said ratchet wheel arranged to shift the wing to either of said positions, whereby the subsequent operation of the control will result in said operation of the wing, said shaft extendin out of the camera and arrangedl to be shifte endwise whereby the shaft can be turned b the user to place the wing in any desire position relative to the shutter, and during rotation of shutter and wing.

Signed at New York city, March REnvHART w. Prr'rMAN.` 

